Ball speed automatic pausal indicator

ABSTRACT

A ball speed automatic pausal indicator comprising a ball speed indicator assembly and an automatic reverse motion pauser. The ball speed indicator assembly includes a ball speed scale mounted on a rotatable drum and a stationary flat lens with a reference hairline. The automatic reverse pauser includes a battery, a timer motor, a cam driven by a speed reducer gear drive, a normally closed cam actuated switch, a normally open slip ring segment switch and a pawl-cogwheel combination. An indicator suitable for a pitching practice apparatus with a pivoted ball target plate. In the initial position, the cam actuated switch and the slip ring segment switch are both open. After a ball impacts the ball target plate of the apparatus, the indicator scale, the slip ring segment switch and the cogwheel will rotate with their common shaft. The slip ring segment switch will then close causing the timer motor to start. Operation of the timer motor will rotate the cam which will initially close the cam actuated switch and after a period of time, which is the pausal duration, will release the pawl from the cogwheel, allowing the cogwheel, slip ring segment switch and the indicator scale to return to their initial positions. The timer motor will continue to operate until the cam actuated switch is opened by cam action. Thus, the apparatus and the ball speed automatic pausal indicator are automatically restored to their initial positions. The pausal duration, during which the user of the apparatus should be able to read the speed of the pitched ball, can be set at the desired value by means of an adjustable resistor connected in series with the timer motor.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

A. Field of Invention

This invention relates to ball speed indicators, specifically to a ballspeed automatic pausal indicator.

B. Description of Prior Art

In the use of a pitching practice apparatus, it should be desirable forthe user to read the the speed of the pitched ball directly from theapparatus.

Prior art devices for indicating ball speed which require user actuatedelectrical switches include the pitching speed indicator by Calimeri(U.S. Pat. No. 5,163,014) which uses a manually operated stopwatch andelectronic equipment and the base trainer by Black, et al., (U.S. Pat.No. 5,566,934) which uses a foot-operated switch and electronicequipment. The accuracy of ball speed indication depends on propersynchronization of ball release and actuation of the devices. Thedevices are not automatic.

Automatic devices for indicating ball speed include the speedmeasurement device with statistics gathering capability by Vermillion(U.S. Pat. No. 6,683,558) which uses radar waves and electronicequipment; the Doppler radar speed measuring unit by Cadotte, Jr., etal., (U.S. Pat. No. 6,091,355) which uses microwaves and electronicequipment; and the method and apparatus to determine golf balltrajectory and flight by Gobush, et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,412) whichuses optics and electronic equipment. The devices use complex electronicequipment and can be damaged if a fast ball hits any of theircomponents. The apparatus by Gobush, et al., is most susceptible to suchdamage because of the cameras and Fresnel lenses used.

The pitching practice apparatus of this inventor, patent pending underapplication Ser. No. 11/084585 filed Mar. 21, 2005, does not use anyelectronic equipment, is robust enough to withstand without damage theimpact of a fast ball and can automatically indicate if a desired ballspeed has been attained or exceeded by a signal device such as theraising of a flag. It should be an improvement if the user can also readthe ball speed directly from the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION A. Objects and Advantages

Accordingly the present invention will provide:

a ball speed indicator with an automatic reverse motion pauser to pausethe indicator for a desired period to allow the user of the pitchingpractice apparatus of this inventor sufficient time to read the scaleand which will automatically restore the scale to its initial position,

a ball speed indicator which can absorb without damage the impact of afast ball, and

a ball speed indicator which will not require complex electronicequipment.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a considerationof the ensuing drawings and description.

B. Description of Invention

This invention is a ball speed automatic pausal indicator comprising aball speed indicator assembly and an automatic reverse motion pauser.

When the present invention is applied on the pitching practice apparatusof this inventor, said ball speed indicator assembly and said automaticreverse motion pauser are fixedly connected to the appropriatecomponents of the apparatus such that the user of the apparatus will beable and will have sufficient time to read the ball speed before theapparatus is automatically restored to its initial position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION A. Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an automatic reverse motion pauser.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a pausal release assembly.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of some components connected to theapparatus.

FIG. 4 is a right side sectional view of other components connected tothe apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the apparatus with the present inventionadded.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of the apparatus with the present inventionadded.

B. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 adjustable resistor-   2 timer motor-   3 light bulb-   4 cam actuated switch-   5 slip ring segment switch-   6 fuse-   7 on-off switch-   8 battery-   9 speed reducer gear drive-   10 gear output shaft-   11 cam-   12 pawl-   13 shaft-   14 electricity conducting slip ring segment-   15 electricity non-conducting slip ring segment-   16 electrical brush-   17 torsion spring-   18 cogwheel-   19 indicator scale drum-   20 flat lens-   21 indicator scale drum cover-   22 lens guard-   23 pausal release housing-   24 battery cover

C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of the preferred embodiment of an automaticreverse motion pauser of a ball speed indicator for the pitchingpractice apparatus. Adjustable resistor 1 is for user adjustment of thepausal duration by limiting circuit current. Timer motor 2 will providemechanical power to a pausal release assembly. Light bulb 3 willilluminate the ball speed indicator scale while timer motor 2 isoperating. Cam actuated switch 4 and slip ring segment switch 5 areshown in the initial open positions. Cam actuated switch 4 is normallyclosed. Fuse 6 is for over-current protection. On-off switch 7 is formanually closing or opening the circuit. Battery 8 will provideelectrical power to the circuit.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a pausal release assembly suitable forinterrupting momentarily rotational or translational reverse motion.Timer motor 2 is fixedly connected to the housing of speed reducer geardrive 9 and will provide mechanical power to speed reducer gear drive 9.Spur gears, bevel gears, and worm gear-worm combinations can be used inspeed reducer gear drive 9 to reduce the angular speed of gear outputshaft 10 close to the value that will result in the desired pausalduration. Cam 11 is fixedly connected to gear output shaft 10. Anexternal bearing (not shown) can be used to support the outer end ofgear output shaft 10. The electrical polarity of timer motor 2 will beselected to cause cam 11 to rotate in the counterclockwise directionsuch that pawl 12 is pushed up and released before cam actuated switch 4is opened. The pivot pin of pawl 12, the housing of speed reducer geardrive 9, the insulated body of cam actuated switch 4 and the externalbearing of gear output shaft 10, if used, are fixedly connected to thepitching practice apparatus by a suitable chassis (not shown).

FIG. 3 shows shaft 13 which is fixedly connected to and coaxial with theshaft of the ball target assembly of the pitching practice apparatus.Electricity conducting slip ring segment 14 is fixedly connected to,coaxial with, and electrically insulated from shaft 13. Electricitynon-conducting slip ring segment 15 will complete the slip ring and isfixedly connected to shaft 13. Two electrical brush 16 are for closingslip ring segment switch 5 shown in FIG. 1 by providing electricalcontinuity through electricity conducting slip ring segment 14 whenshaft 13 is rotated. Spring loaded brush holders fixedly connected tothe pitching practice apparatus by a suitable chassis (both not shown)will be provided for two electrical brush 16. Cogwheel 18 and indicatorscale drum 19 are coaxial with and fixedly connected to shaft 13. Pawl12 is constantly urged to engage with cogwheel 18 by torsion spring 17.When a ball impacts the strike zone of the apparatus, shaft 13 willrotate in the counterclockwise direction causing closure of slip ringsegment switch 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, with on-off switch 7 closed, closure of slip ringsegment switch 5 will start timer motor 2 and energize light bulb 3. Theoperation of timer motor 2 will cause cam 11 to rotate counterclockwise,as seen using FIG. 2, such that cam actuated switch 4 is first closed bycam action and after a period of time, which is the pausal duration, forpawl 12 to rotate counterclockwise, as seen using FIG. 2, or clockwiseas seen using FIG. 3, and disengage from cogwheel 18, also by camaction. Once pawl 12 is disengaged, cogwheel 18, indicator scale drum19, slip ring segment switch 5, and shaft 13 will return to theirinitial positions at the urging of the spring of the apparatus. Timermotor 2 will continue to operate until cam actuated switch 4 is openedby cam action of cam 11. Thus, all components are automatically restoredto their initial positions. If desired, a manually-operated releaselever for pawl 12 can be used to allow for a weak battery 8.

The pausal duration can be adjusted by means of adjustable resistor 1.The time interval between the release of pawl 12 and the opening of camactuated switch 4, which can be called the wait time, can be adjusted byadjusting the angular displacement between the points of contact of cam11 between pawl 12 and cam actuated switch 4. While making the latteradjustment, it is very important to ensure that pawl 12 is engaged withcogwheel 18 before cam actuated switch 4 is opened

FIG. 4 shows flat lens 20 mounted on indicator scale drum cover 21 andheld in place by lens guard 22. Light bulb 3 will illuminate theindicator scale and will signal the user of the apparatus that timermotor 2 is operating. Flat lens 20 will be located in front of theindicator scale on scale drum 19 to magnify the scale seen by the user.Lens guard 22 will be suitably sized to prevent impact of the ball onflat lens 20. A horizontal hairline will be provided on the middle ofthe curved surface of flat lens 20 to serve as reference for reading thescale. In the initial position the “0” of the scale will coincide withthe hairline. The numbers on the scale will increase in the clockwisedirection, as viewed using FIG. 3, along the cylindrical surface ofindicator scale drum 19 and will be separated by intervals which willdepend on the design of the pitching practice apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the pitching practice apparatus with thepresent invention installed on the left side. The figure shows flat lens20 with the horizontal hairline in the middle, lens guard 22, indicatorscale drum cover 21 and pausal release housing 23. If amanually-operated release lever for pawl 12 is used, the lever couldprotrude through a slot in front of pausal release housing 23. Indicatorscale drum cover 21 and pausal release housing 23 are fixedly connectedto the cover of the apparatus by suitable means.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of the pitching practice apparatus with thepresent invention installed. The figure shows adjustable resistor 1,on-off switch 7, indicator scale drum cover 21, lens guard 22, pausalrelease housing 23 and battery cover 24. Adjustable resistor 1 can beinstalled such that moving the adjustment lever upwards will increasethe resistance which will result in a longer pausal duration, ifdesired.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS OF INVENTION

A. Colored Indicator Scale

To make it easier for the user of the improved pitching practiceapparatus to read the indicator scale, the intervals between the scaledivisions can have different colors. For example, red between “0” and“10”, yellow between “10” and “20”, green between “20” and “30”, and soon.

B. Materials

To minimize the effect of the present invention on the design of thepitching practice apparatus, the components that will rotate with theshaft of the apparatus should be, as much as possible, made of lightmaterial such as plastic and carbon fiber. The components that are infront of the apparatus should be robust enough to absorb without damagethe impact of a fast ball. Suggested materials include steel, plywood,reinforced carbon fiber and reinforced plastic.

SUMMARY, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

Accordingly, the present invention will provide an improvement for thepitching practice apparatus of this inventor which will allow the userof the apparatus to read the ball speed directly from the apparatus, aball speed indicator which can absorb without damage the impact of afast ball and a ball speed indicator which does not use complexelectronic equipment. The present invention will also provide anautomatic reverse motion pauser to momentarily interrupt the return of abody in rotational motion, and which can be adjusted to a desired pausalduration. Furthermore, the present invention will also provide a ballspeed automatic pausal indicator which is simple to design, which shouldnot significantly affect the design of the pitching practice apparatusand which can be made of ordinary components.

Although the description above contain many specifics, these should notbe construed as limiting the scope of the present invention but asmerely providing illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments ofthis invention. For example, the automatic reverse motion pauser canalso be used to momentarily interrupt reverse translational motion if apawl-toothed rack combination instead of a pawl-cogwheel combination anda straight segment switch instead of a slip ring segment switch areused.

Thus the scope of the present invention should be determined by theappended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than the examplesgiven.

1. An automatic reverse motion pauser of a ball speed indicator for thepitching practice apparatus.
 2. An automatic reverse motion pauser whichcomprises: a battery for providing electrical power, a chassis forproviding structural support; a shaft; a normally open slip ring segmentswitch coaxial with, electrically insulated from, and fixedly connectedto the shaft; a cogwheel coaxial with and fixedly connected to theshaft; a spring-loaded pawl constantly urged to engage with saidcogwheel; a speed reducer gear drive; a timer motor for providingmechanical power to said speed reducer gear drive; a cam fixedlyconnected to the output shaft of said speed reducer gear drive; anormally closed cam actuated switch; and electrical wiring forconnecting in series the battery, the parallel combination of said slipring segment switch and said cam actuated switch, and said timer motor.3. The automatic reverse motion pauser of claim 2 wherein said camactuated switch and said slip ring segment switch are initially open. 4.The automatic reverse motion pauser of claim 2 wherein said cam willrotate in a manner such that said cam actuated switch is closed by camaction first and after a pausal duration, said pawl is disengaged fromsaid cogwheel by cam action followed by the opening of said cam actuatedswitch also by cam action.
 5. The automatic reverse motion pauser ofclaim 2 wherein the pausal duration is adjusted by means of anadjustable resistor connected in series with said timer motor.